💃 The Córdoba Fair: a week of tradition, horses and joy in the caliphal city
In the heart of Córdoba, when May arrives and the heat begins to caress the thousand-year-old stones, the city is transformed. The Córdoba Fair is not just any festival: it is the explosion of Cordoban identity, a mix of devotion, horses, flowers, wine and sevillanas that for seven days turns every corner into a stage of joy. At The Sun Places we invite you to discover why this fair is unique and how to experience it with all the luxury you deserve.
When is the Córdoba Fair?
📅 The Córdoba Fair is held every year at the end of May, coinciding with the week before or after the feast of the patron saint (the last Saturday of the month). In 2026, the planned dates are from 23 to 30 May. The main gate is lit on Friday 22 May at 10:00 p.m., and the party does not let up until the Sunday of "Resacón" (hangover). The opening speech from Plaza de la Corredera is usually on the previous Monday. The casetas open from midday until six in the morning.
📍 Where is the Córdoba Fair held?
The fairground El Arenal is located next to the Guadalquivir River, a twenty-minute walk from the historic centre. It is very close to the Jewish Quarter, Flower Alley and the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs. Many fairgoers combine the fair with a walk through the patios of the Santa Marina Neighbourhood and the San Basilio Neighbourhood, or with a visit to the Arab Baths of Córdoba to recharge their batteries.
📜 History of the Córdoba Fair
The first edition of The Córdoba Fair was in 1952, promoted by Mayor Antonio Cruz Conde. Heir to the medieval livestock fairs, it was born in the Paseo de la Victoria and a year later it moved to El Arenal. In the 1960s, dance casetas, the monumental gate and amusement rides arrived. In 2000, the grounds were renovated.
Today it is a Festival of National Tourist Interest of Andalusia and brings together more than 120 casetas where groups, brotherhoods and families share PDO Oil from the Sierra, wines from Moriles, and the best handicrafts. The tradition of horse and carriage parades recalls Córdoba's equestrian past, which can also be admired at the Royal Stables Equestrian Show.
🏛️ Who organises Nuestra Señora de la Salud Fair (Córdoba Fair)?
The organisation of The Córdoba Fair is carried out by the City Promotion Department of the Córdoba City Council, through the Festivals and Traditions Department. The responsibility lies with the Culture, Leisure and Nature Area of the city council, which is responsible for planning, security, casetas and the programming of such emblematic events as the opening speech, the main gate and the horse competition.
Furthermore, the city's associative fabric participates actively: groups, brotherhoods and entities such as the Royal Circle of Friendship, which often wins the award for the best caseta at the fair. The Traditional Carriage Club collaborates in the carriage exhibition.
🍽️ Where to eat during the Córdoba Fair? Haute cuisine and the best tapas
During The Córdoba Fair, the city offers an exceptional gastronomic offering. For lovers of haute cuisine, Córdoba has three Michelin-starred restaurants:
- ⭐⭐⭐ Restaurante Noor, by chef Paco Morales (three stars), a culinary experience that reinterprets Andalusian cuisine
- ⭐ Restaurante Choco, by Kisko García (one star), with a creative, author-led proposal
- ⭐ Restaurante ReComiendo, by Periko Ortega, who in 2025 achieved his first Michelin star
If you are looking for more quality options recommended by the Michelin Guide, you will find establishments with Bib Gourmand such as Terra Olea, Regadera, La Casa de Manolete Bistró, La Taberna de Almodóvar and El Envero.
For traditional tapas, you cannot miss Bodegas Mezquita (on Calle Céspedes or Corregidor), Taberna La Montillana, Bar Santos (famous for its omelette), Casa Pepe de la Judería, or Bodegas Campos.
In Plaza de la Corredera you have mandatory stops such as Taberna La Cuarta and La Despensa de la Corredera. And don't forget a classic:
- La Cazuela de la Espartería, both for tapas and for a quiet meal. The Sun Places recommends and manages reservations for you at the best restaurants, combining haute cuisine with the tradition of the casetas.
🏅 What the Córdoba Fair represents for Córdoba, Andalusia and The Sun Places
- For Córdoba, this fair is the popular soul, where devotion to the patron saint merges with joy.
- For Andalusia, it is one of the great showcases of folklore, horses and gastronomy.
- For The Sun Places, it represents the opportunity to offer authentic luxury: our guests can dance sevillanas in private casetas, sleep in dream apartments, and the next day walk through Flower Alley, the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs and Plaza de la Corredera, or relax in the Arab Baths of Córdoba. All while tasting Cordoban oil and wines from Moriles.
🎪 Casetas, horses and gastronomy at the Córdoba Fair
The Córdoba Fair has two zones: the "Fairground" with the casetas and the main gate, and "Hell Street" with amusement rides. The daily parade of horses and vintage cars is a highlight. Public casetas are free; private ones require an invitation. The Sun Places gets you access to the best private casetas, where oil from the Sierra and wines from Moriles accompany the local gastronomy.
During the day, don't miss the Santa Marina Neighbourhood and the San Basilio Neighbourhood with their flower-filled patios, and Plaza de la Corredera for tapas.
🏠 The perfect plan with The Sun Places for the Córdoba Fair
Experience The Córdoba Fair with our three-day luxury plan:
- Friday: Arrival and accommodation in our Luxury Apartments in Córdoba. In the afternoon, a walk through Flower Alley and the Jewish Quarter. Dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant (we recommend Choco or ReComiendo). At night, visit the main gate and the first casetas.
- Saturday: In the morning, private guided tour of the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs and the patios of the Santa Marina Neighbourhood and San Basilio. In the afternoon, horse parade at the Fairground. At night, dinner in a private caseta and sevillanas until dawn.
- Sunday: Rest and relaxation at the Arab Baths of Córdoba. Tasting of oil from the Sierra and wines from Montilla-Moriles. Before leaving, tapas at Taberna La Montillana or Bodegas Campos and shopping for handicrafts in the Jewish Quarter. Return with the unforgettable memory of a unique fair.
📞 Contact The Sun Places and let us organise your visit to The Córdoba Fair. Andalusian joy awaits you. ✨
But if you prefer other destinations, The Sun Places also has ready for you: Luxury Apartments in Barcelona, Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava, Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús, Luxury Apartments in Seville and much more.